The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Functional Magnetic stimulation (FMS) on gastrointestinal motility in patients suffering from chronic constipation due to non-neurological issues.

Effectiveness of FMS in accelerating the gastric emptying in patients with non-neurological constipation after 5-week conditioning protocol [ Time Frame: 5 weeks after conditioning ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Effectiveness of FMS in reducing the colonic transit time in patients with non-neurological constipation after a 5 week conditioning period [ Time Frame: 5 weeks after conditioning ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Other Name: Commericially available magnetic stimulations with round magnetic coils.

Sham Comparator: Sham

FMS at 5% intensity for 5 weeks

Device: Functional Magnetic Stimulation

20 minute stimulation will be applied 5 days a week for 5 weeks

Other Name: Commericially available magnetic stimulations with round magnetic coils.

Detailed Description:

The goal of this pilot study is to evaluate the usefulness of FMS as a noninvasive method to stimulate the GI motility in individuals with non-neurological constipation by adopting a 5-week conditioning protocol performed in a hospital outpatient setting. FMS has demonstrated the ability to generate significant rectal pressure and enhance GI transit in normal and spinal cord injury subjects. With proper abdominal muscle conditioning, FMS may improve colonic motility partly due to improved abdominal muscle tone.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 80 Years (Adult, Senior)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Age 18-80

constipation defined by the Rome II criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Past history of abdominal surgery

past history of diabetes mellitus

past history of hypothyroidism

past history of inflammatory bowel disease

past history of significant psychiatric disturbances

past history of drug abuse

past history of cardiac pacemakers

past history of metal implants

patients who cannot travel to keep the follow up

patients who are prisoners

patients who are mentally handicapped

patients who are pregnant

Contacts and Locations

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01786837